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The Poor Relation's Story
The Poor Relation's Story Charles Dickens The Poor Relation's Story is one of the greatest short stories of Charles Dickens conveying about a poor relation who dreamed of his fantasy life. The story begins when a family gathered in an event of Christmas. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.
First published January 1, 1871
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About the author
Charles Dickens
12.2k books31.1k followersCharles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 10, 2016
I'm not sure why there seem to be so many reviews of this story complaining that it's too clunky, too confusing, too drab. I didn't get any of that. I loved this story, although I should say that I seem to have a bias towards anything that consciously contrasts reality verses fantasy. But Dickens' use of foreshadowing was well done, and I got a little kick out of his "punny" way of naming characters (Uncle Chill has a frosty sort of disposition, Little Frank is painted as small, meek and also the only truthful, friendly character in Michael's life). It's cleverly done, and added depth to what I otherwise see as a short, straightforward story. Yes, it can be read as a sad story. But there's something still innately romantic and hopeful in Michael's Castle. Again, I tend to fall in love with stories that deal with characters building some kind of imaginary counterpart to a difficult reality, so it's not surprising that I really enjoyed this. I just wish more people saw in it what I see. Maybe it's a matter of whether you're a Michael or a John Spatter. Give it a chance! Maybe you'll find a nice story to keep in your own Castle.
January 16, 2022
As is a tale, so is life, not how long it is but how good it is, is what matters,
said Seneca once. If we hold up Charles Dicken's The Poor Relation's Story to that standard, it becomes clear that it's incredibly short with a word count shy of 4400 words, and not outstandingly good.
I acquired this little Christmas calendar (that tells the story; one page for each day of December) from my granny as she is currently in the process of getting rid of her things. The edition is so beautiful and reminds me of her, which is why I'll cherish my copy forever. Nonetheless, the story as a whole didn't really woe me; it's passable. It starts very strong and then dwindles, the open end is disappointing and feels lazy. One of the main reasons why it's still an enjoyable read, is Charles Dickens' sublime language. Though I read the German translation, I was still in awe of his intricate choice of words and how polished his sentences sound. Reading The Poor Relation's Story actually made me want to pick up one of Dickens' chunkier novels again, as I have also tremendously enjoyed Great Expectations last year.
In this Christmas tale, we follow a poor man, Michael, who tells his life's story to his relatives. He says that he still owns a business and earns enough to be independent. As his life is lonely and rather monotonous, he invents a different life where everything is the way he wants it to be. He calls it a “castle”, showing that it is a sanctuary that gives him protection. But since it is in the “air”, it is not solid and cannot give him any material or “real” improvements on his life. It is more of a coping mechanism. Judging from what I've heard the motif of a "castle in the air" (so false hopes and dreams) is pretty common in Dickens' work, I'm intrigued to explore more of it.
To cope with his loneliness, Michael relies on his imagination. Because he wants to deny that the people he trusts had betrayed him, he pretends that they were as kind as he expected them to be, and just as pure as himself. His ideal Christiana loves him enough to marry him despite his poverty and her mother’s disagreement. His imaginary John does not betray him in business, instead supporting him as a friend. He also has a complete family with children and grandchildren, and he bases one of his grandsons on Little Frank, the only member of his real family who he can relate to. Because Little Frank will be leaving soon, he will be even lonelier and probably live in his imagination even more.
It is a neat little story that is enjoyable enough but nothing special by any means. It got me back into Dickens though, so it kind of did what it was supposed to do, and it's a great memento to my granny, so all a successful read.
I acquired this little Christmas calendar (that tells the story; one page for each day of December) from my granny as she is currently in the process of getting rid of her things. The edition is so beautiful and reminds me of her, which is why I'll cherish my copy forever. Nonetheless, the story as a whole didn't really woe me; it's passable. It starts very strong and then dwindles, the open end is disappointing and feels lazy. One of the main reasons why it's still an enjoyable read, is Charles Dickens' sublime language. Though I read the German translation, I was still in awe of his intricate choice of words and how polished his sentences sound. Reading The Poor Relation's Story actually made me want to pick up one of Dickens' chunkier novels again, as I have also tremendously enjoyed Great Expectations last year.
In this Christmas tale, we follow a poor man, Michael, who tells his life's story to his relatives. He says that he still owns a business and earns enough to be independent. As his life is lonely and rather monotonous, he invents a different life where everything is the way he wants it to be. He calls it a “castle”, showing that it is a sanctuary that gives him protection. But since it is in the “air”, it is not solid and cannot give him any material or “real” improvements on his life. It is more of a coping mechanism. Judging from what I've heard the motif of a "castle in the air" (so false hopes and dreams) is pretty common in Dickens' work, I'm intrigued to explore more of it.
To cope with his loneliness, Michael relies on his imagination. Because he wants to deny that the people he trusts had betrayed him, he pretends that they were as kind as he expected them to be, and just as pure as himself. His ideal Christiana loves him enough to marry him despite his poverty and her mother’s disagreement. His imaginary John does not betray him in business, instead supporting him as a friend. He also has a complete family with children and grandchildren, and he bases one of his grandsons on Little Frank, the only member of his real family who he can relate to. Because Little Frank will be leaving soon, he will be even lonelier and probably live in his imagination even more.
It is a neat little story that is enjoyable enough but nothing special by any means. It got me back into Dickens though, so it kind of did what it was supposed to do, and it's a great memento to my granny, so all a successful read.
July 7, 2021
A beautiful Dickens story with a surprising ending. Uncle Chill sounds like Scrooge?
December 2, 2020
Love Dickens writing, but this story was lackluster at best. Our protagonist has a quiet, sort of sad, simple life, so while telling his family the story of his life, he makes up one he likes better. I kept hoping for more, but the abrupt end left me wanting. It was one of the stories in my book "Stories for Christmas" by Dickens.
December 28, 2019
Dude, why? Pretty sure good ol’ cousin John is very fed up with you at this point.
April 6, 2022
read this for school it was trippy i was confused till my teacher explained the ending & i was like 🤯😱
July 6, 2022
Enjoyed the story on the whole… Narrator’s kind of annoying though
December 17, 2023
Charles Dickens' "The Poor Relation's Story" is a short story that is only Christmas related due to a gathering and the poor relation telling about his life being so different than what they think.
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I am not what I am supposed to be. I am quite another thing. Perhaps before I go further, I had better glance at what I am supposed to be. It is supposed, unless I mistake — the assembled members of our family will correct me if I do, which is
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very likely (here the poor relation looked mildly about him for contradiction); that I am nobody’s enemy but my own. That I never met with any particular success in anything. That I failed in business because I was unbusiness-like and credulous — in not being prepared for the interested designs of my partner. That I failed in love, because I was ridiculously trustful — in thinking it impossible that Christiana could deceive me. That I failed in my expectations from my uncle Chill, on account of not being as sharp as he
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could have wished in worldly matters. That, through life, I have been rather put upon and disappointed in a general way. That I am at present a bachelor of between fifty-nine and sixty years of age, living on a limited income in the form of a quarterly allowance, to which I see that John our esteemed host wishes me to make no further allusion. The supposition as to my present pursuits and habits is to the following effect. I live in a lodging in the Clapham Road — a very clean back room, in
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a very respectable house — where I am expected not to be at home in the day-time, unless poorly; and which I usually leave in the morning at nine o’clock, on pretence of going to business. I take my breakfast — my roll and butter, and my half-pint of coffee — at the old-established coffee-shop near Westminster Bridge; and then I go into the City — I don’t know why — and sit in Garraway’s Coffee House, and on ’Change, and walk about, and look into a few offices and counting-houses where some of my relations or acquaintance are so good as to tolerate me, and where I stand by the fire if the weather happens to be cold. I get through the day in this way until five o’clock, and then I dine: at a cost, on the average, of one and threepence. Having still a little money to spend on my evening’s entertainment, I look into the old-established coffee-shop as I go home, and take my cup of tea, and perhaps my bit of toast. So, as the large hand of the clock makes its way round to the morning hour again, I make my way round to the Clapham Road
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again, and go to bed when I get to my lodging — fire being expensive, and being objected to by the family on account of its giving trouble and making a dirt. Sometimes, one of my relations or acquaintances is so obliging as to ask me to dinner. Those are holiday occasions, and then I generally walk in the Park. I am a solitary man, and seldom walk with anybody. Not that I am avoided because I am shabby; for I am not at all shabby, having always a very good suit of black on (or rather Oxford mixture,
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Michael tells that his life a happy one and is well off with a loving family and that his young nephew, little Frank is kind to him. He has only castles in the air and he is indeed poor and alone but what a beautiful dream! Is there really a little Frank?
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which has the appearance of black and wears much better); but I have got into a habit of speaking low, and being rather silent, and my spirits are not high, and I am sensible that I am not an attractive companion. The only exception to this general rule is the child of my first cousin, Little Frank. I have a particular affection for that child, and he takes very kindly to me. He is a diffident boy by nature; and in a crowd he is soon run over, as I may say, and forgotten. He and I, however, get on exceedingly well. I have
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a fancy that the poor child will in time succeed to my peculiar position in the family. We talk but little; still, we understand each other. We walk about, hand in hand; and without much speaking he knows what I mean, and I know what he means. When he was very little indeed, I used to take him to the windows of the toy-shops, and show him the toys inside. It is surprising how soon he found out that I would have made him a great many presents if I had been in circumstances to do it.
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Little Frank and I go and look at the outside of the Monument — he is very fond of the Monument — and at the Bridges, and at all the sights that are free. On two of my birthdays, we have dined on à-la-mode beef, and gone at half-price to the play, and been deeply interested. I was once walking with him in Lombard Street, which we often visit on account of my having mentioned to him that there are great riches there — he is very fond of Lombard Street — when a gentleman said to me as he passed by, “Sir, your little son has
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dropped his glove.” I assure you, if you will excuse my remarking on so trivial a circumstance, this accidental mention of the child as mine, quite touched my heart and brought the foolish tears into my eyes. When Little Frank is sent to school in the country, I shall be very much at a loss what to do with myself, but I have the intention of walking down there once a month and seeing him on a half holiday. I am told he will then be at play upon the Heath; and if my visits should be objected to, as unsettling the child, I
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can see him from a distance without his seeing me, and walk back again. His mother comes of a highly genteel family, and rather disapproves, I am aware, of our being too much together. I know that I am not calculated to improve his retiring disposition; but I think he would miss me beyond the feeling of the moment if we were wholly separated. When I die in the Clapham Road, I shall not leave much more in this world than I shall take out of it; but, I happen to have a miniature of a bright-faced boy, with a curling
➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖
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I am not what I am supposed to be. I am quite another thing. Perhaps before I go further, I had better glance at what I am supposed to be. It is supposed, unless I mistake — the assembled members of our family will correct me if I do, which is
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 216160
very likely (here the poor relation looked mildly about him for contradiction); that I am nobody’s enemy but my own. That I never met with any particular success in anything. That I failed in business because I was unbusiness-like and credulous — in not being prepared for the interested designs of my partner. That I failed in love, because I was ridiculously trustful — in thinking it impossible that Christiana could deceive me. That I failed in my expectations from my uncle Chill, on account of not being as sharp as he
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 216163
could have wished in worldly matters. That, through life, I have been rather put upon and disappointed in a general way. That I am at present a bachelor of between fifty-nine and sixty years of age, living on a limited income in the form of a quarterly allowance, to which I see that John our esteemed host wishes me to make no further allusion. The supposition as to my present pursuits and habits is to the following effect. I live in a lodging in the Clapham Road — a very clean back room, in
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 216167
a very respectable house — where I am expected not to be at home in the day-time, unless poorly; and which I usually leave in the morning at nine o’clock, on pretence of going to business. I take my breakfast — my roll and butter, and my half-pint of coffee — at the old-established coffee-shop near Westminster Bridge; and then I go into the City — I don’t know why — and sit in Garraway’s Coffee House, and on ’Change, and walk about, and look into a few offices and counting-houses where some of my relations or acquaintance are so good as to tolerate me, and where I stand by the fire if the weather happens to be cold. I get through the day in this way until five o’clock, and then I dine: at a cost, on the average, of one and threepence. Having still a little money to spend on my evening’s entertainment, I look into the old-established coffee-shop as I go home, and take my cup of tea, and perhaps my bit of toast. So, as the large hand of the clock makes its way round to the morning hour again, I make my way round to the Clapham Road
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 216175
again, and go to bed when I get to my lodging — fire being expensive, and being objected to by the family on account of its giving trouble and making a dirt. Sometimes, one of my relations or acquaintances is so obliging as to ask me to dinner. Those are holiday occasions, and then I generally walk in the Park. I am a solitary man, and seldom walk with anybody. Not that I am avoided because I am shabby; for I am not at all shabby, having always a very good suit of black on (or rather Oxford mixture,
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert
Michael tells that his life a happy one and is well off with a loving family and that his young nephew, little Frank is kind to him. He has only castles in the air and he is indeed poor and alone but what a beautiful dream! Is there really a little Frank?
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 216179
which has the appearance of black and wears much better); but I have got into a habit of speaking low, and being rather silent, and my spirits are not high, and I am sensible that I am not an attractive companion. The only exception to this general rule is the child of my first cousin, Little Frank. I have a particular affection for that child, and he takes very kindly to me. He is a diffident boy by nature; and in a crowd he is soon run over, as I may say, and forgotten. He and I, however, get on exceedingly well. I have
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 216183
a fancy that the poor child will in time succeed to my peculiar position in the family. We talk but little; still, we understand each other. We walk about, hand in hand; and without much speaking he knows what I mean, and I know what he means. When he was very little indeed, I used to take him to the windows of the toy-shops, and show him the toys inside. It is surprising how soon he found out that I would have made him a great many presents if I had been in circumstances to do it.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 216186
Little Frank and I go and look at the outside of the Monument — he is very fond of the Monument — and at the Bridges, and at all the sights that are free. On two of my birthdays, we have dined on à-la-mode beef, and gone at half-price to the play, and been deeply interested. I was once walking with him in Lombard Street, which we often visit on account of my having mentioned to him that there are great riches there — he is very fond of Lombard Street — when a gentleman said to me as he passed by, “Sir, your little son has
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 216190
dropped his glove.” I assure you, if you will excuse my remarking on so trivial a circumstance, this accidental mention of the child as mine, quite touched my heart and brought the foolish tears into my eyes. When Little Frank is sent to school in the country, I shall be very much at a loss what to do with myself, but I have the intention of walking down there once a month and seeing him on a half holiday. I am told he will then be at play upon the Heath; and if my visits should be objected to, as unsettling the child, I
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 216194
can see him from a distance without his seeing me, and walk back again. His mother comes of a highly genteel family, and rather disapproves, I am aware, of our being too much together. I know that I am not calculated to improve his retiring disposition; but I think he would miss me beyond the feeling of the moment if we were wholly separated. When I die in the Clapham Road, I shall not leave much more in this world than I shall take out of it; but, I happen to have a miniature of a bright-faced boy, with a curling
February 4, 2016
"You are too easy, Michael. You are nobody’s enemy but your own. " --- Michael's business partner
"I cannot bear this, for to bear it is to be untrue to you. I would rather share your struggles than look on. I want no better home than you can give me. I know that you will aspire and labour with a higher courage if I am wholly yours, and let it be so when you will!" --- Michael's wife
"When Little Frank is sent to school in the country, I shall be very much at a loss what to do with myself, but I have the intention of walking down there once a month and seeing him on a half holiday. I am told he will then be at play upon the Heath; and if my visits should be objected to, as unsettling the child, I can see him from a distance without his seeing me, and walk back again. His mother comes of a highly genteel family, and rather disapproves, I am aware, of our being too much together. I know that I am not calculated to improve his retiring disposition; but I think he would miss me beyond the feeling of the moment if we were wholly separated." --- Michael
This story certainly took more time for me to understand. However, in the end, I enjoyed it a lot. As always with Dickens's stories, it moved and touched my heart.
"I cannot bear this, for to bear it is to be untrue to you. I would rather share your struggles than look on. I want no better home than you can give me. I know that you will aspire and labour with a higher courage if I am wholly yours, and let it be so when you will!" --- Michael's wife
"When Little Frank is sent to school in the country, I shall be very much at a loss what to do with myself, but I have the intention of walking down there once a month and seeing him on a half holiday. I am told he will then be at play upon the Heath; and if my visits should be objected to, as unsettling the child, I can see him from a distance without his seeing me, and walk back again. His mother comes of a highly genteel family, and rather disapproves, I am aware, of our being too much together. I know that I am not calculated to improve his retiring disposition; but I think he would miss me beyond the feeling of the moment if we were wholly separated." --- Michael
This story certainly took more time for me to understand. However, in the end, I enjoyed it a lot. As always with Dickens's stories, it moved and touched my heart.
December 16, 2020
I've been trying to read a Christmas book or short story every day in December, and yesterday it was The Poor Relation's Story that came up next in that list. The only reason I am considering this a Christmas story is because it is in a book of Charles Dickens Christmas stories. If there is a mention of Christmas in it I missed it. And if you read the last page it becomes a very sad story, so I choose to ignore the last page and the rather confusing comments from our poor relation. I refuse to wonder, if he is a poor relation with no job, no money, no friends, no one to talk to but one small boy, then how can he also be living in his "castle" with a loving wife, children, and wonderful job with a dear, kind friend. I refuse to try to understand how those two things can fit together because it is Christmas and I want our poor relation not to be poor, I want him to be happy, with a happy wife, and happy children, and a happy partner, and a happy, happy castle. I choose to ignore that last page. If I say much more about it the review will be longer than the story, so I will let you go and read the story for yourself. Don't bother to read it at Christmas though, it has nothing to do with it at all. Happy reading and Merry Christmas. :-)
December 13, 2024
First published by Dickens on January 1, 1871, this short story begins with a family gathering at Christmastime. Everyone sits cosily around the fire, awaiting Michael, (the poor relation’s story). However, his story is completely different to what they were all expecting.
Love Dickens but this is not one of my favourites.
Love Dickens but this is not one of my favourites.
December 19, 2017
I saw this mentioned online and found a copy of it online. It's a very short story with a moral. What the moral is, is up to you. Worth finding and reading it; it only takes a few minutes! I was glad I did.
December 3, 2020
Actual rating 3.5 🌟
This is my favorite so far in the Christmas short stories we're reading.
A man shares a brief story of his sad life and then shares the "real" story of his life. It's the life he wishes was his. The ending is slightly abrupt. I would have loved to hear more.
This is my favorite so far in the Christmas short stories we're reading.
A man shares a brief story of his sad life and then shares the "real" story of his life. It's the life he wishes was his. The ending is slightly abrupt. I would have loved to hear more.
December 22, 2023
"Estoy moralmente obligado a
confesar que no conozco el motivo por el cual debo permanecer en este mundo."
Me gusta este cuento, me hace pensar en idealizar la vida, nuestros sueños están en algún lugar y nosotros vivimos en otro.
confesar que no conozco el motivo por el cual debo permanecer en este mundo."
Me gusta este cuento, me hace pensar en idealizar la vida, nuestros sueños están en algún lugar y nosotros vivimos en otro.
January 4, 2024
Este relato cuenta como Michael, el protagonista, se junta con su familia en la cena de Navidad y cuenta la historia de su vida.
Me gustó bastante, aunque te deja con un sabor amargo. La vida misma.
Me gustó bastante, aunque te deja con un sabor amargo. La vida misma.
November 30, 2018
What can I say- Dickens- loved it!
December 11, 2018
To be honest I didn't really follow this story much. I listened to it on Spotify and the narrator was obnoxious, sounding more like he was taking the piss.
November 6, 2019
Una historia muy linda Dickens, la superación de la adversidad luego de un duro momento, el amor y la amistad te conmueven.
October 18, 2020
When we have nothing but our only imagination.
November 20, 2020
As a short story goes, I guess this is OK but I didn't love it.. probably stick with A Christmas Carol
September 15, 2021
4 out of 5
December 6, 2021
Well, that was a little disappointing.
December 11, 2022
I don't really have much to say about this. It was a story about a mans life told a Christmas Dinner and that pretty much it.
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December 19, 2022The end reveals that his castle is “in the Air” which I assume means he imagines it? Does he also imagine the whole family or do they live with him in a small non-Castle?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2023
Amor, dinero, desamor todo depende de las circunstancias y como tú lo veas, una novela corta donde el autor cuenta un relato donde mete en una coctelera todo lo descrito antes
December 11, 2023
Interesting, but not very Holidayish
January 28, 2024
Entrañable, enternecedor, conmovedor y... cruel realidad.
November 20, 2015
Read in A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Classics
I didn't get it and had to look it up online. I think I'm too stupid to be reading these things. There's supposedly a lot of social commentary in here deriding how the poor were treated in Victorian England, and I guess looking back I can see that now. Still, I usually like to read a story for the story itself, and this didn't swing it for me. Perhaps if I hadn't been falling asleep as I read I might have enjoyed it more and caught more of the literary stuff. However, I can see where other people could enjoy this; just depends on your personal tastes. It has Christmas feel-good stuff in it.
Anyway, here's the skinny: It's kind of like It's a Wonderful Life in that it describes what could've been, but in this case things were better in the imaginary world than in the real one. Again, from a materialistic point of view. Life truly is what you make of it regardless of what you have or don't have.
But I'm still not giving this an extra star as I can't say it was better than just "OK" for me.
I didn't get it and had to look it up online. I think I'm too stupid to be reading these things. There's supposedly a lot of social commentary in here deriding how the poor were treated in Victorian England, and I guess looking back I can see that now. Still, I usually like to read a story for the story itself, and this didn't swing it for me. Perhaps if I hadn't been falling asleep as I read I might have enjoyed it more and caught more of the literary stuff. However, I can see where other people could enjoy this; just depends on your personal tastes. It has Christmas feel-good stuff in it.
Anyway, here's the skinny: It's kind of like It's a Wonderful Life in that it describes what could've been, but in this case things were better in the imaginary world than in the real one. Again, from a materialistic point of view. Life truly is what you make of it regardless of what you have or don't have.
But I'm still not giving this an extra star as I can't say it was better than just "OK" for me.
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